A public
relations consultant and prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of the
National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Chief Olisa Metuh, Mr. Olayinka Okunsanya, yesterday told a Federal High
Court how Destra Investment Limited, owned by Metuh paid him N77.5
million to carry out publicity jobs for the PDP.
Okusanya is the
managing directors of CMC Connect, a public relations consultant firm
that is into publicity, promotions, image management and media-related
services.
In his evidence in chief, the witness (PW6) said Metuh, through Destra, paid him the money “for jobs we did for the PDP.
He said: “In December 2014, Metuh, through Destra, paid N7.5 million in cheques in my name which was transferred to my company
“On December 15, 2014, he transferred N70
million through his company again after which we commenced publicity
work for the PDP.”
The Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission (EFCC) has arrainged Metuh on a seven-count charge of money
laundering to the tune of N400 million.
The anti-corruption agency alleged that
he received the money from the former National Security Adviser, Col
Sambo Dasuki (retd), which it claimed was part of the $2.1 billion meant
for the purchase of arms.
Another witness, Kabiru Ibrahim, a Bureau De Change (BDC) operator, said he received $1 million from a previous witness, PW1, Nneka Ararume.
In her testimony as PW1, Ararume, a staff
of Assets Resource Management Company (ARM) and an investment officer
to Metuh, said the money was given to Ibrahim to sell.
Ibrahim told the court that he was called by PW1, who gave him $1 million to sell at the rate of N183 in early December 2014.
The money, totalling N183 million, was later transferred to the account of Destra Investments Limited, Olisa Metuh’s company.
He said he had never personally sold dollars to Metuh at any point in time.
According to the witness, “She paid me in
cash, through my account with Diamond Bank and I transferred the money
to that account, Destra,”
The witness also said he never did anything wrong in selling dollars to Ararume.
“I don’t know, I don’t have limit.”
Ibrahim also agreed that the huge fund transfer he made was done legitimately by his bank, Diamond Bank.
Meanwhile, a staff of Diamond Bank,
Eno-Mfon Effiong, who is also an account officer of the five accounts
belonging to Metuh and his company, also told a Federal High Court how
N400 million was paid into the company’s account by the Office of the
National Security Adviser (ONSA).
The witness, who was testifying as
prosecution witness on Wednesday, said on November 24, 2014, the account
of Destra Investments Limited was credited with N400 million from the
office of the NSA under code CBN/CIFTS/MAT SEC ADBIS, which in simple
terms means that it is a credit from the ONSA.
Metuh’s trial has been adjourned to February 4 at the instance of his counsel.
Culled from The Sun
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